Signal system.



W. 11. KIRNAN. SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1909.

Patented June 15,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q/qli/ m mao I a M b W. H. KIRNAN.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION IILEI) FEB. 10, 1909.

Patented une 15, 1909.

2 SHEETS-8HEET 2.

m I film m m "ful lmproyeinents in Signal Systems,

WILLIAM H. KIRNAN, OF BAYONNE, NEW .lli llSliY.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Application filed Febraary 10, 1969. Serial No. 477,143.

TocZZ whom it ma-yconccrn:

Be 'lll'lQIlOWIl that I, WILLIAM H. KIRNAX,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Bayonne, county of Hudson,State of New Jersey, havelinyented certain new and useof Wlli'chthefollowing is a full/clear, and cxa ct description.

vMy'invention relates to an impro 'ed nalsystenfland has for its objectto provide a system in which all mechanical devices for locking,unlocking or mechanically cont-rolling transmitting devices aredispensed with, and in Which the control is ciiected solely by changesin the electric continuity of the various circuits.

lily invention further has for its object to provide a-syst'em by whichthe signals can be transmitted at a very high syeed, so that the speedof transmission sha l be dependent solely upon the speed of the streetboxes.

. A further object" of my invention is to make a perfect non-interferingcentral oilice system, which will permit the usc'of an unlimited number.of individual or box circuits leading to the. central otiice, and inwhich but one signal will be re-transmitted from the central stationwithout regard to whether :One or allot the street box circuits areactuated and without regard to the number of street box circuits whichmay begin operatingiat exactly the same time.

.A further object of my invention is to prevent absolutely themutilation of one signal by another or the confusion of a signal whichis being automatically transmitted from the.

central station, no matter how slow or how fast the street boxes mayoperate, or at what time they begiirto operate.

A further ObJQCt is to so simplify the system that positive and rapidoperation is assured.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a system in which thestreet circuit rclays shall be free to act at alltimes and in which.signals sent in through them will be recorded whether or no ,such'signals are retransmitted from the central station, and in Whichone andonly one of such street circuit relays will. receive record and is-transmit 'tator cylinder on the line I -y F ig. 3. s19;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the master controller and also of thelocal controller.

Fig. s a detail of the local controller show.- ing certain comn'iutatiug(ltYlttS. F lg. l is .a detail showing a sectionof the commutatingcylinder on thcliuc :;-.1:, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a'detail showing a sectionof the commu- Fig. 6 is a detail showing a section of the commutatorcylinder on the line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 also shows the sameconstruction that wouldnppear in a section on the line 'ww,

Fig.3,

licfcrring more particularly to-the drawings, 1-1-1' represent localstreet circuits battery or other sources of current 6 and adapted to beactuated by any one of the street circuit relays at, the local points ofsaid relays being connected in multiple to the circuit'through the relay5 and source of current 6.

7-7-7 are local circuit'controllers, belonging respectively to thesections A, B, C, andeach of which is actuated by its correspondingstreet circuit relay 4 and acts to break the electrical connectionbetween the transmitting relay 5 and any .street circuit relay which ismore remote than the street circuit relaylirst actuated, as well as themore remote street circuit relay of two street circuit relays which aresimultaneously actuated.

8 is a master controller which breaks the normal circuit through all ofthe local controllers whenever any of the street circuit relays 4 isactuated.

9 are local. recorders which record signals sent in to the respectivestreet circuit relays, independently of whether said signals aretransmitted by said street circuit relays to the transmitting relay 5.

The mast-er controller 8 consists of an clectro-magnet having anarmature 10 carrying a pawl 11, which engages a notched disk 12 mountedon'the commutator shaft 13. The commutator shaft 1.3 carries twoelectrically connected pro ections 14-, which normally engage twosprings 15 15. The

armature 10 is normally retracted from its magnet by a spring 16.Aspring 17 tends to move the commutator so as to disengage theprojections 14 from the springs '15 and will disengage them whenever thearmature 10 is raised so as to cause the pawl-11 to become disengagedfrom the notched disk .12. The commutator is provided with an arm 18adapted to be engaged by the pin 19 onthe lever 20, 'so'that wheneverthe mutators and the brushes bearing thereon.

The commutators of the local circuit con- 4 trollers are shown inenlarged detail in Fig.

3,v and. consist of two insulating portions 23 24,-one of which has anoffset conducting member 25 while the other has a straight conductingprojection 26. c 27, 28 and 29 are three brushes adapted to engage'withthe offset projecting eonductor' 25 in such manner that when thecommutatoris in normal position, brushes 28 and 29 engage with themember 25, and when the commutator is in abnormal position, brushes 27and 28 engage with the conductor 25. The proportions are such that whenthe conductor 25 is passing from normal to abnormal position, the brush27 makes en 'agement wlth the member 25 before the brush 29 breaksitsengagement therewith. I

30 and 31 are two brushes which'engage the member 26 when the commutatorisin normal osition" and are electrically goonnected thereby. When thecommutator is in abnormal position,- the brushes 30 and 31 aredisengaged from the conducting 'member' 26 and therefore the'=electricalconnection betweenthem is dis-established.

The brushes 27 are connected in multi 10 to a conductor 32,,and;complete one eg of an alternative return-icircuitlfrom the battery 6when the circuit. through the master controllerS isbroken at thebrushes,

1515, and when the local circuit controllers 7, have moved toabnormalosition. The

brushes 28 are-connected to coal pointsor' contacts 33 respectivelyotthe street circuit relays, which contacts are engaged bythearmatures 34of the street circuit relays 4 when those relays are ,deenergized. The

boxes 3 are closed circuit boxes, so that the relays 4 are-normallyenergized. The brushes '2-9 are connected to the terminals 35 of thelocal circuit controller's 7 so as to be in series with the windings ofthe magnets of those controllers and the multiple con' nectionsThe-brushes 30 are connected by the conductors 36 and the commutatormembers '26 so as to be in series with one anotherand the brushes 31.The brush 31 nearest to the battery 6 is connected thereto by aconductor 37-, so that when the parts are in normal position thetransmitting relay 5, battery 6 and brushes 30 and 31 on all the localcontrolling apparatus are in series with one another and also with thewindings of the master controller Sand the commutator brushes 15 15, toone of which brushes 15 the magnets of all the local circuit controllers7 are connected in multiple.

When the parts are in normal position, the initial circuit, startingwith the armature 34, is as follows: armature 34, conductor 36,conductor 37, battery 6, transmitting relay 5,

windings of master controller 8, brushes 1515', conductor 21, and thencethrough the windings of the several local circuit controllers inmultiple, the circuit through any one local circuit controller being asfollows:

1 conductor 22, windings of local controller 7,

conductor 35, brush 29, commutator member 25, brush 28 and contact 33.When the magnet of any relay 4 is deenergized, so that the armature 34makes engagement'with the contact 33, the circuit just stated throughthe master controller and the corresponding local controller, is closed,and the transmission relay 5, the master controller Sandcorrespondinglocal controller 7 all become energized; The master controller and theenergized local controller thereupon draw up theirarmatures, causingtheir pawls to release their respective commutators, where-- upon thecommutator of the ,master controller is shifted by the spring 17 so asto interrupt theelectrical connection between the brushes 15'- 15"andthe commutator of the energized local circuitcontroller is shiftedsoas to interrupt the electrical connection between the brushes 30 and 31and also so as to interrupt the electrical connection between thebrushes 28 and 29 and establish an electrical connection between thebrushes 27 and 28. When the commutators of the master controller. andone of the local controllers have shifted so as to be in abnormalposition as just stated, the circuit from the armature 34 is analternative or substitute circuit, and is as'follows: armature 34,conductor 36, conductor 37, batter I ''6, transmitting relay 5,conductor 32, brus 27, brush 28, contact 33. In this way it will be seenthat both the windings of the master controller and the local circuitcontroller have been cut out of circuit and a direct cir cuitestablishedbetween one of the local points of the street'circuit relays4 and the transmitting relay 5. Assuming the relay 4 of section B to beactuated at a time when.

eaaero the system use whole is in normal condition,

the tirst action is to cause the transmitter the master controller andthe local. circuit controller of section B to become cnergizml and shifttheir commutators, so as to change the circuits from the normal circuitsabove described to the abnormal ('Olltlltltlll above described. When thecircuits are in abnormal condition above described, on account of theoperation of the street relay 4 of section B, the signal beingtransmitted by that relay cannot be interrupted or interfered with byeither of the other relays 4, since the circuit in which are includedthe armature 34 and contact 33 of the street relay 4 of section C isinterrupted by reason of the break in the eircuitat the brushes 15 15.The street circuit relay 4 of section A cannot interfere, because thecircuit, including its armature 34 and contact 33, is interrupted byreason of the breal; in the electric continuity between the brushes and31 of the local controller of section B. The action of the relay ofsection B can, therefore, not be interfered with by the action of anyother relay. If two street boxes were pulled simultaneously, so that twostreet relays 4 became de'energized simultaneously, the result would bethat the two local circuit controllers corresponding to the two actuatedrelays 4, would be energized and actuated as well as themastercontroller S. The street circuit relay 4 which is nearest thebattery 6 would, however, take control, the more remote street circuitrelay being cut out of action by the breaking of the electricalcontinuity of the brushes 30 and 31 of the energized local circuitcontroller which is nearest to the source of current 6. If a signal isbeing sent in through a remote street circuit relay 4 and an alarm boxon the circuit of a relay 4 which is nearer to the battery 6 should bepulled and actuated so that the armature 34 of the nearer street circuitrelay 4 engages its contact 33 repeatedly, the more remote streetcircuit relay 4 would still maintain its control and not be' interferedIn order to record any signals which may be sent in from any streetcircuit, without regard to Whether they are transmitted to the relaymagnet 5 or not, I provide a second contact 38 which is in series withthe recort ing magnets 9. These recording magnets are connected 1nmultiple to one terminal or the battery 3?), to whose other terminal theminiatures are connected in multiple. The recording magnets 9 areprovided with the ordinary printing mechanism 40 for re cording thesignals upon the tape 41. The transmitting magnet 5 actuates an armature42 so as to open and close a circuit through the battery 43 and. alarmmechanism 44 in the ordinary nnrnncr.

'i he coinmutators of the master controller and the local circuitcontrollers are all independently mounted and each is provided with anarm 1.8, which is ci'igaged for re-setting, by a pin 1&1 on a lever 20.These levers 2!) are all rigidly connected to a shaft 20, which isactuated by depressing the arms 20 so as to reset all the controllerssimultaneously. v

My system, on account of the eliin'iinition of all interlockingapparatus, and on account of the fact that re iys without. othermechanical devices are [infill in transmitting signals, can lie-operatedto transmit signals accurately at a very rapid rate. Moreover, since thecindings of the controller relating to any circuit which is in use areentirely cut out, all sources of res stance and induction between thestreet relay and the transmitting relay "e:-:cept in so faruas anycoi'iduetor necessarily possesses such characteristics, is entirelyeliminated. The circuits other than that in use are so interrupted thatit is im possible for the signal being sent to be interfered with in anyway.

The apparatus is sim )l0 and positive in its action, and tl'iere islittle liability of its getting out of order. Its speed, simplicity andpositive action necessarily esult from the arrangement described andshown.

Various modifications can be made in my embodiment of the inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof, the form which I have shownand described being the form at present preferred by me.

What I claim is:

1. Ina signal system, the combination of a plurality of street circuitrelays, a circuit controlled thereby, a plurality of local circuitcont-rollers actuated by the corresponding street circuit relays,respectively, each local circuit controller when actuated by its streetcircuit relay disconnecting the contacts of other street circuit relaysfrom said circuit.

' 2. In a-signal system, the combination of.

aplurality of street circuit relays, a circuit controlled thereby, aplurality of local circuit controllers actuated. by the correspondingstreet circuit relays respectively, and a master controller actuated. byeach of said street circuit relays and -controlling the cir- H cuitsthrough the windings of said local circult controller.

I q o' n re 1 n r '1 i n .3. n a. si nal s3 oLLlll, L it. com )ma on ora plurality of street cn'cu1t relays, a circuit controlled thereby, aplurality of local circuit' controllers actuated by thecorrespondingstreet circuit relays, each circuit controller whenactuated by its street circuit relay disconnecting the contacts 'of'other street circuit relays from said circuit and a master controlleractuated by each of said street circuit relays and controlling thecircuits throu hthe windings of said local circuit contro '4. In asignal system, the combination of a plurality of street circuit relayshaving local points connectedin-multiple, a circuit controlledthereby, aplurality of local circuit controllers having windings in multiple tosaid circuit and in .series with-said local points respectively, each ofthe local circuit controllers being actuated bya corresponding streetcircuit relay and actingwhen actuated to ,-disconnect the contacts ofother .rstreet circuit relaysfrom said circuit.

,5. In a signal system, thecombination of a plurality of street" circuitrelays, a circuit controlled thereby, a plurality of local circuitcontrollers having windings inmultiple to said circuit, each of thelocal circuit controllersbeing actuated by a corresponding streetcircuit relay andacting when actuated to disconnect the contacts ofother street circuit relays from said circuits, and a master controllerhaving windings to which the windings of thelocal circuit controllersare connected in multiple, said master cont-roller having circuitbreaking means in series with itswind ing and the circuit controlled bysaid street circuit relays. 1

' '6. In a signal system, the combination of a plurality of streetcircuit relays, a circuit controlled thereby, a plurality of localcircuit controllers actuated by the corresponding street circuit relays,each local circuit controller when actuated by its street circuit relaydisconnecting the contacts of other street circuit relays from saidcircuit and establishing an alternative circuit under the control of thelocal street relayulrich is actuated. j t I 7. Inasignal system, thecombination of a plurality of street circuit relays, a circuitcontrolled thereby, a master cont-roller havlng windlngs in saidcircuit, contacts controlled by said master controller, a plurality oflocal circuit controllers connected in multiple with each otherandinseries with said contacts, said local clrcuit controllers being each inseries with the contacts of one of said street circuit relays and meansfor establishing an alternative circuit around one local circuitcontroller and the master controller whenever said local circuitcontroller is actuated by the street circuit relays.

8. In a signal system, the combination of a plurality of street'circuitrelays, a circuit -1ngs.

circuits connected in multiple t said local circuits, a I I magneticrecording devices eac 'c'orrespondof local circuit controllers connectedin multiple with each otherand in series with said contacts, said'loicalcircuit controllers beineach -i-n;1series with the contacts of one ofsai street circuit relays and means for establishing an alternativecircuit around one local c1rcu1t controller and the master controllerWhenever said local circuit controller is actuated by its street circuitrelay and means for causing the local circuit controller so actuated tobreakthe circuit through its wind- 9. In a signal system, thecombiriation of a-sourceof current, a transmitting relay in seriestherewith, a master controller alsoin series therewith, a pluralityloflocal circuit controllers in multiple with each other and in series withsaid transmitting relay, means actuated by said ma ter controller forbreaking the circuit between said circuit controllers and saidtransmitting relay. v

v 10. In a signal system, the combination of a source of current, atransmitting relay in series therewith, a master controller also inseries therewith, a plurality of local circuit controllers in multiplewith each othera'nd in series with said transmitting relay,-streetcircuit relays corresponding to said local between said circuitcontrollers and said 11. In a signal system,.thecombinationof a sourceof current, a transmittmg relay in series therewith, a master controlleralso in circuit controllers, means actuated by said master controllerfor breaking the. CIlIC111,l}'-

series therewith, a plurality of local circuit controllers in multiplewith each other and in.

controllers, means actuated by said master series with said transmittingrelay,stree t ci1 cuit relays 'correspondingtosaidlocalclrcuitcontroller for breaking the'circuitbetween sa'id circuitcontrollers and said transmitting relay and means actuated by said localc1rcu1t controllers, first actuated. for changing the circcuit of anylocal circuit controller Whose street circuit relay s actuated, andmeans. actuated by such actuated local c1rcu1t con-l.

troller for interrupting the circuit through other local circuitcontrollers and said so of current. i i

12. In an alarm system, the; combination of a transmission circuit, apluralit Q ilQQfl-I plurality of street circuit relaysicontiibllin'gpluralit ."of electro- .respectiirely' by said street circuit relays.

urce

1 3.' In. analarm signal system, the combination' ofa transmissionrelay, a battery series therewith, conductors leading there-1; fromforming a plurality of normally open' circuits, street circuit relayshaving normally closed circuits each when deenergized adapted to closeone of said local circuits, local circuit controllers in each of saidlocal circuits and a master controller to which said local circuitcontrollers are connected in multiple, said master controller whenenergized breaking the circuit through said local controllers, and eachof said local controllers when energized breaking the circuit through itand also other ocal circuit controllers and establishing an alternativecircuit around its own windings.

' 14. In an alarm signal apparatus, the com bination of a transmittingrelay, a battery in series therewith, a master controller in series withsaid battery and said relay, circuit breaking devices controlled by saidmaster controller, which when said master controller is actuated breakthe circuit therethrough, a

plurality of local circuit controllers in. multiple with each other andin series wlth said circuit breaking devices, each local circultcontroller having circuit breaking devices in serieswith said battery.

15. In an alarm signal apparatus, the combination of a transmittingrelay, a battery in series therewith, a master controller in series withsaid battery and said relay, circuit breaking devices controlled by saidmaster controller, which when said master controller is actuated breakthe circuit therethrough, a plurality of local circuit controllers inmultiple with each other and in series with said circuit breakingdevices, each local circuit controller having circuit breaking devicesin series with said battery and circuit breaking devices in series withits own windings.

16. In an alarm signal apparatus, the combination of a transmittingrelay, a battery in series therewith, a master controller in series withsaid battery and said relay, circuit breaking devices controlled by saidmaster controller, which when said master controller is actuated breakthe circuit therethrough, a plurality of local circuit controllers inmultiple with each other and in series with said circuit breakingdevices, each local circuit controller having circuit breaking devicesin series with said battery and means for establishing an alternativecircuit around its own windings to the transmitting relay.

17. In an alarm signal apparatus, the combination of a transmittingrelay, a battery in series therewith, a master controller in series Withsaid battery and said relay, circuit breaking devices controlled by saidmaster controller, which when said master controllers in multiple witheach other and in series with said circuit breaking devices, each localcircuit controller having circuit breaking devices in series with saidbattery and means for establishing an alternative circuit around its ownwindings and also around a master controller.

18. In an alarm signal apparatus, the combination of a transmittingrelay, a battery in series therewith, a master controller in series withsaid battery and said relay, circuit breaking devices controlled by saidmaster controller, which when said master controller is actuated breakthe circuit therethrough, a plurality of local circuit controllers inmultiple with each other and in series with said circuit breakingdevices each local circuit controller having circuit breaking devices inseries with said battery and means for establishing ainaltcrnativecircuit around its own windings and also around a master controller, andmeans for breaking a circuit through its own windings.

19. In a signal system, the combination of a transmitting relay, asource of current and a master controller in series with one another, aplurality of street circuit relays, a plurality of branch circuitsconnecting pairs of contacts of said street circuit relays in multiplewith one another and in series with said transmitting relay, source ofcurrent and master controller, producing a plurality of initialcircuits, local circuit-controllers in said branch circuits, and meansfor establishing an alternative circuit around any one of said localcircuit-controllers when such local circuit-controller is actuated.

20. In a signal system, the combination of a transmitting relay, asource of current and ainaster controller in series with one another, aplurality of street circuit relays, a plurality of branch circuitsconnecting pairs of contacts of said street circuit relays in multiplewith one another and in series with said transmitting relay, source ofcurrent and master controller, producing a plurality of initialcircuits, local circuit-controllers in said branch circuits, and meansfor establishing analternative circuit around any one of said localcircuit-controllers when such local circuit-controller is actuated, saidmeans breaking the initial circuit but establishing the alternativecircuit before the initial circuit is broken.

WILLIAM H. KIRNAN.

